(All photos courtesy of Martin Rye)

Some big news last week. I was selected to participate in the 2010 TGO Challenge. This is an annual coast-to-coast hike across Scotland held every May. As you can imagine, I am very excited about this since only a handful of Americans participate each year. This year's event will be held from May 14-28 and approximately 300 hikers will attempt the traverse.

The object of the TGO Challenge is to foster good fellowship among walkers within the framework of a challenging expedition. It is not a competition, but a demanding, self-supported trek across Scotland from the west coast to the east coast. Participants plan their own cross-country routes and must walk them without external support.

Route plans vary widely and include high, medium, and low routes that reflect the number of mountain ascents attempted during a walker's hike. Scotland has 283 munros of height 3,000 ft or higher, which despite their modest size, can be treacherous to climb year round due to bad weather and rugged terrain. My own route, about 150 miles long, will be a low one (recommended for first time challengers), but weather-permitting, will provide me with the opportunity to bag a half-dozen or more of these peaks.

Challengers can camp during the entire traverse or stay in B&B's and Inns if they like. I'm planning on camping mostly, but will probably stay in a few B&B's along the way to dry out and resupply. Another type of shelter, unique to the UK is also available, called a bothie. These are old buildings, donated by landowners, that are used by hikers for shelter and maintained by an organization called the Mountain Bothies Association.

The idea for the Challenge first came from the Scottish writer and mountaineer, Hamish Brown, best known for his book Hamish's Mountain Walk. Having hiked across Scotland himself, Brown felt that this was a journey that could be accomplished by others within the framework of a organized, non-competitive event. Brown presented the idea to Roger Smith, then editor of The Great Outdoors Magazine (TGO), an excellent UK walking magazine, and the first Challenge was held in 1980. Since then, a remarkable 6,493 have finished the crossing.

Many Challenge participants use the walk to raise funds for charity. A hiking friend of mine was diagnosed with Leukemia this year and her illness has touched me deeply. Before that, I knew little about Leukemia and other forms of blood cancer, which account for 9.5% of all cancer deaths in the United States.

Therefore, I am finalizing the paperwork now to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I hope you will support my efforts. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is committed to finding cures for leukemia and related diseases and improving the lives of those affected by these diseases. In addition to funding research and education outreach, they provide financial assistance and sponsor support groups for patients and families.

Related posts:

1. Hiking in Scotland: The TGO Challenge
2. TGO Challenge Route Plan: Version 10
3. Challenge Gear Testing: Stove, Mobile, GPS & OS Maps
4. Day 1: Shiel Bridge to Alltbeithe Youth Hostel